And God Remembered Noah
Introduction
Genesis 8:1–22 records the turning point of the Flood: God
remembered Noah, calmed the waters, settled the ark, renewed the
earth, received worship, and gave a lasting promise of stability to
every generation.
God Remembered Noah
God’s remembrance is covenant care in action. When Moses writes,
“Then God remembered Noah,” he declares that God moved toward Noah
with faithful mercy. The fountains of the deep ceased, the windows
of heaven closed, and a God-sent wind began the long retreat of the
waters (Genesis 8:1–3). Divine remembrance does not imply God had
forgotten; it announces the moment His purpose advances for the
salvation of His people.
Providence in the Wind and
the Waters
Scripture shows God using means. The wind accelerated evaporation
and drove waters toward newly formed basins, fulfilling what the
psalmist celebrates: waters fled at God’s rebuke, valleys sank,
mountains rose, and boundaries fixed the seas so they would not
again cover the earth (Psalm 104:5–9). The same word that created
now orders and restrains.
The Ark Rests and the
Birds Test
After 150 days the ark rested upon the mountains of Ararat (Genesis
8:4–5). Noah waited, watched, and worked with patient wisdom. He
released a raven, which could live on floating carrion and thus gave
little information. He then sent a dove, a more reliable messenger
for habitable land (Genesis 8:6–9). After seven days the dove
returned with a fresh olive leaf, a sign of new growth upon exposed
slopes (Genesis 8:10–11). After another seven days the dove did not
return, signaling that the world beyond the ark could now sustain
life (Genesis 8:12). Faith is patient; it watches the signs God
provides and moves when God opens the way.
A New Beginning and
Worship First
When the earth was dry enough to sustain footfall, God commanded
Noah to disembark with his family and every living creature (Genesis
8:13–19). Noah’s first act was worship. He built an altar and
offered burnt offerings from the clean animals God had earlier
provided in greater number (Genesis 7:2–3; 8:20). The Lord received
the offering as a “soothing aroma,” language later used for the
sacrificial fragrance that rises to God (2 Corinthians 2:14–16). New
beginnings belong to God; His people mark them with gratitude and
consecration.
God’s Unconditional
Promise of Stability
God pledged a universal mercy to every generation: while the earth
remains there will be seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter
and summer, day and night (Genesis 8:21–22). This is a creation-wide
covenant kindness. Human hearts still incline toward evil from
youth, yet God maintains the rhythms of life so that repentance may
be sought, families may be sustained, and the gospel may be
preached.
The Flood, the Future, and
Holy Living
Peter connects Noah’s days to the final day. By God’s word the
ancient world was deluged; by that same word the present heavens and
earth are reserved for fire until the day of judgment (2 Peter
3:5–7, 10–12). God’s patience aims at repentance (2 Peter 3:8–9).
Jesus Himself treated the Flood as history and as warning: ordinary
life proceeds until the moment of divine visitation (Matthew
24:37–39). In light of this, Peter asks the searching question: what
kind of people ought we to be in holy conduct and godliness (2 Peter
3:11)?
Believing the Early
Chapters of Genesis
Christ, the apostles, and the Hebrew writer affirm Noah and the
Flood as true history (Matthew 24:37–39; 1 Peter 3:20; Hebrews
11:7). Confidence in Genesis anchors confidence in the rest of
Scripture, for the story of redemption unfolds from creation to new
creation. The God who judged the world by water and saved eight
souls by grace is the God who will bring all things to completion in
Christ.
And God Remembered Noah
Sermon Outline:
-
Text and Theme:
Genesis 8:1–22 — God’s covenant faithfulness in remembering,
rescuing, renewing, and promising.
-
I. God Remembers and
Acts (Genesis 8:1–3)
-
II. Mountains,
Valleys, and Bounds (Psalm 104:5–9)
-
III. Patience on the
Peaks: Raven and Dove (Genesis 8:4–12)
-
Ark rests on Ararat;
waiting continues.
-
Raven surveys debris;
dove tests for habitability.
-
Olive leaf and then no
return: signs to proceed.
-
IV. Stepping into a
New World (Genesis 8:13–19)
-
V. Worship at the
Threshold (Genesis 8:20; 7:2–3; 2 Corinthians 2:14–16)
-
VI. God’s Global
Pledge (Genesis 8:21–22)
-
VII. From Flood to
Fire—Living Ready (2 Peter 3:5–12; Matthew 24:37–39)
-
Application
-
Trust God’s promises
amid instability.
-
Practice patient
obedience as Noah did.
-
Prioritize worship at
every new beginning.
-
Walk in holiness in
light of the coming day.
Call to Action
Take courage in God’s remembrance. Trust His promise that sustains
every sunrise and every season. Practice patient obedience that
waits on His word, and make worship your first response to every new
beginning. Prepare for the day of the Lord by repenting of sin,
confessing Christ, and walking in holiness before Him.
Key Takeaways
-
God’s remembrance moves Him
to act in covenant mercy for His people (Genesis 8:1–3).
-
Creation bears God’s
ordering hand as waters recede within divinely set bounds (Psalm
104:5–9).
-
Patient obedience discerns
God’s timing through the signs He provides (Genesis 8:6–12).
-
Worship belongs at the
threshold of every new season of life (Genesis 8:20; 2
Corinthians 2:14–16).
-
God’s universal promise
sustains the rhythms that make life and mission possible
(Genesis 8:21–22).
-
The certainty of final
judgment calls believers to holy conduct and readiness (2 Peter
3:5–12; Matthew 24:37–39).
-
Christ and the apostles
affirm the history of the Flood, grounding our confidence in all
Scripture (Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; Matthew 24:37–39).
Scripture Reference List
-
Genesis 8:1–22
— God remembers Noah; waters recede; ark rests; altar; promise
of enduring seasons.
-
Genesis 7:2–3
— Extra clean animals provided, anticipating post-Flood
sacrifices.
-
Psalm 104:5–9
— Poetic account of God setting boundaries for the waters after
the great upheaval.
-
Matthew 24:37–39
— Jesus compares His return to the days of Noah to urge
vigilance.
-
Hebrews 11:7
— Noah’s faith condemned the world and obtained righteousness.
-
1 Peter 3:20
— Eight souls saved through water; the Flood treated as
historical and instructive.
-
2 Peter 3:5–12
— By God’s word the world was flooded; the present creation is
reserved for fire; call to holy living.
-
2 Corinthians 2:14–16
— The imagery of a sweet aroma applied to gospel ministry and
consecrated life.
Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO |
The
church of Christ
